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Ozil: Forwards are finally converting my assists

Mesut Ozil believes the main reason he has 13 Premier League assists to his name this season is down to the improved nature of Arsenal’s finishing.

Ozil has at least six more assists than his nearest challenger this campaign, and has emerged as Arsenal’s most important player as they look to challenge on three fronts for trophies.

Rather than an improvement in his own game however, Ozil feels the improved finishing of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott is the main reason for such an impressive return.

“Our forwards now convert my assists. You have to put the numbers into perspective,” Ozil told Kicker. “I’ve also played a lot of good final passes in the last two seasons, but nobody converted them. This year, our attackers turn my assists into goals, and those assists appear in the stats.

“I am the one making the decisions on the pitch, and I make them like I’ve always made them. When one of my teammates is better positioned, I will pass the ball, because I play for the team and not for me.”

Ozil discussed his return from a knee injury last season, which sidelined him for three months from October.

“That was my first major injury,” Ozil, who has since changed his diet, said. “For instance, I get treatment from the physios on days off and I also [get] a good sleep.

“I missed playing football that much during my injury. I don’t want it to happen again and that’s why I do all I do all I can to avoid it happening again.”